Coast Guard Thwarts Tech Comeback, 67-62

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Craig Johnson was 7-of-8 from the floor and finished with a game-high 18 points to help Coast Guard rescue an important NEWMAC victory over MIT, 67-62. The Engineers, who trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half, suffered their first loss in two weeks despite a furious comeback attempt.

Coast Guard (10-8, 2-5) opened the second half with a 39-21 lead and proceeded to score the first five points of the period to stretch its advantage to 44-21. With 18 minutes left in regulation, and facing its biggest deficit of the campaign, MIT (9-8, 3-4) looked incapable of clawing back into the game. Ultimately, it was senior Adam Gibbons who sparked Tech's hardwood unit. Gibbons knocked down a pair of three's to start a 20-2 run for the Engineers, which eventually reduced the Bears' edge to 49-46 with 10 minutes to play. Mike D'Auria, Mike Huhs and Alex Krull connected on key baskets during the stretch, while Gibbons forced five steals to hamper Coast Guard's attack.

The Bears answered the Engineers explosion with a 10-3 run of their own that pushed the lead back to 10. Johnson led the way for Coast Guard by penetrating into the lane and converting several off-balance shots. After Al Sowers connected on two shots from the charity line, the Bears saw their lead swell to 12 with 2:30 remaining in the game. Again MIT had an answer as a three-point play by Phil Murray followed by D'Auria first three of the day reduced the edge to 64-60 with just under two minutes to go. Although Tech had chances to close the gap even further, the Bears calmly sank three free throws in the final minute to ensure the win.

Gibbons scored 17 points to lead all MIT scorers. Alex Krull contributed a career-high 11, while D'Auria scored 10. Prebeck added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Coast Guard, with Grant Johnson supplying 14 and Dan Sheppard, 12. Sheppard and Johnson each closed with nine boards as Coast Guard fell just shy of having three players with a double-double.